Trestle-track liner



(No Model.)

P.'B. DOBBINS. TRESTLE TRACK LINER.

No. 494,553. Patented Apr. 4, 1893.-

930,916]! B. pozbnd/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER B. DOBBINS, OF JOHNSTON STATION, GEORGIA.

TRESTLE-TRACK LINER.

SPECIFIGATIONYorming part of Letters Patent No. 494,553, dated April 4,1893. Application tiled October 11, 1892. Serial No.448,540. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER B. DOBBINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ohnston Station, in the county of Liberty and State ofGeorgia, have invented a new and useful Trestle-Track Liner, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for lining railway tracks upon trestlebridges and similar structures, the object in view being to provide asimple and efficient device which may be readily applied to the capbeams of a trestle bridge to aid in bringing the track-rails to aperfect alignment.

In carrying out my invention I employ certain devices and a certaincombination of parts which will be described hereinafter in detail, thenovel features being particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view of a'section of a trestle bridgewith my lining device applied thereto in the operative position. Fig. 2is a plan View of one of the cap beams with the lining-rods appliedthereto. Fig. 3 is a detail view, in perspective, of the lining arm.Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the hangers.

A and B represent, respectively, the upperand lower cap-beams of anordinary trestlebridge, and O O represent hangers, in the form ofsaddles, which fit over the upper cap-beam with their parallel dependingarms 0 c lying in contact with the sides of the lower capbeam. The sidesof the hangers are provided with perforations D through which bolts maybe passed to elevate the hangers when a thin cap or no cap is employed,in which case these bolts rest upon the upper cap, and ablock can befitted between the stringers and on the end of the cap to receive thethrust of the lever. The arms of the hangers are further provided withhooks E E, in which are engaged and supported the lining-rods F F, whichare parallel with and in proximity to the opposite sides of the beam.These rods are provided at their extremities with eyes G G, throughwhich pass transverse pins H H, which lie, re spectively, at oppositeends of the beam, and are provided each at one end with a head it, andat the opposite end with a perforation to receive a key It. The lengthof the rods is such that when the pin at one end lies in contact withthe adjacent end of the beam, the

pin at the opposite end is distant about three inches from that end ofthe beam.

The operating or lining arm or lever K is provided with a bifurcated orforked lower end, whose arms are slotted to receive the transverse pinwhich thus forms a fulcrum therefor. This lever is provided with a bendor elbow L, which projects inward or toward the beam and forms a bearingpoint. The lanyard M is attached to the upper or free end of this lever.The upper cap-beams bear the track-rails, the lower cap-beams arerigidly attached to the trestles, and the upper beams rest upon thelower beams, and until finally bolted or otherwise secured thereto, aremovable thereon.

To align a section of track, after the same has been deflected or thrownout of line for the purpose of repairing some part of the bridge, orwhich has not yet been aligned, set the device as described, with thehangers embracing and bearing upon the upper capbeam and its armsdepending below the plane of the upper side of the lower cap-beam, thelining or (as they may be termed) the tension rods resting in thesupporting hooks of said hangers, with the transverse pin at one end ofsaid rods in contact with the adjacent end of the lower cap-beam, andthe operating lever fulcrumed upon the other transverse pin with itsbearing-point in contact with the adjacent end of the upper cap-beam, asclearly shown in Fig. 1. It will now be seen that the transverse pin atone end of the framework, consisting of the tension-rods and pins, is incontact with one end of the lower and stationary lower cap-beam, and theoperating-lever, which is fulcrumed upon said frame, bears against theend of the upper cap-beam, which is movable upon thelower cap-beam andsupports the stringers N, the truss-ties O, and the rails P.

By drawing upon the lanyard the upper or movable portion of the bridgestructure may be moved laterally to bring the parts into their properrelative positions and the trackrails into perfect alignment. When inthis position they may be bolted or otherwise securely fastened.

This device is of particular utility in defleeting the super-structureof a bridge when it is desired to drive additional piles to take theplace of those which have become useless, or to make other improvementsin the structure of the bridge. The rail-carrying structure may bepushed to one sidea sufficient distan cc to permit of carrying on thedesired 0peratlon, after which it may be replaced and properly alignedas before.

It is to be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and theminordetails of construction may be resorted to without departlng fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what Ic1a1n1, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-- 1. A lining device for trestle bridges, havlng aframework attached to the lower capbeam, and a lever fulcrumed upon saidframework and bearing against the upper capbeam, substantially asspecified.

A lining device fol-trestle tracks, having lining or tension rods,connected by a transverse pin which is adapted to bear against one endof a lower cap-beam, and an operat- 1ng-lever fulcrumed upon atransverse pin connecting the opposite ends of said rods and providedwith a bearing-point to bear against the adjacent end of the uppercap-beam, substantially as specified.

3. A lining device for trestle tracks having hangers attached to theupper cap-beam and provided with depending arms having hooks, thetension'rods supported in said hooks, the transverse pins connecting theextremities of the rods, and the lever fulcrumed upon one of thetransverse pins,havingabearing-point to engage the end of the uppercap-beam, and provided with a lanyard, substantially as specified.

4. A device for lining trestle tracks, comprising the tension -rods,transverse pins, hangers, bifurcated lever having slotted arms and abearing-point, and the lanyard, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER B. DOBBINS.

Witnesses:

O. O. HILTON, J. A. HILTON.

